Useful Tips to Follow While Buying a Used Car

Posted on | 16 Jun 2017 By Anita Gaal

When you decide that you are ready for a new car, by necessity or sheer free will, then you will likely encounter issues along the way. In order to avoid these issues, it is important that you are informed about things to look for and how to best prepare yourself for buying a car. This is particularly important when you are considering buying a used car. Buying a used car has its obvious advantages: they are generally cheaper, and you can find great deals are cars that have barely been driven. If you decide that buying a used car is a better, more economical option for you, then it is best if you know how to go about looking through your choices. Dealerships have a bad reputation for fibbing on car specs, especially if the car is used, because they tend to not do thorough inspections before they purchase a used car from a seller. Certified pre-owned cars are sometimes a great option if you decide to buy a used car because they have been certified by the dealer to meet the basic conditions for sale. This does not mean you are out of the weeds, so here are some tips to follow while buying a used car.

Figure out how much money you want to invest

First and foremost, it is important to figure out how much money you are willing and able to spend on a car. While used cars are generally cheaper than new cars, this is highly dependent upon what type of car you are looking into buying, as well as a few other specifics. For instance, the price is generally calculated by the age of the vehicle, the mileage on the vehicle, and the shape that the vehicle is in when it arrives at the dealer. You may be wondering how this works for sellers who are not dealership-affiliated—or “private sellers.” Generally the process works the same way, although private sellers can come with their own areas of deceitfulness. For instance, dealerships must disclose information to buyers about the history of the vehicle, while private sellers sometimes do not divulge all the pertinent information; for example, whether or not the vehicle has been involved in a car accident before. Regardless, sticking to a budget is a good way of looking for only the cars that will fit into your price range.

Go through a pre-purchase inspection

Whether you are buying a new or used vehicle, it is crucial that you always test drive it. Just because a car is pretty and shiny does not mean that under the hood everything is kosher. In addition to test-driving the car, it is always a good idea to go through a pre-purchase inspection. If you can have a trusted mechanic first look at the vehicle, it is likely that they will come across a few things that need to be repaired. Keep in mind that used cars are not new; in case we didn’t have to tell you this, used cars have been driven before, have run over things, have accrued usage and mileage that you were not involved in. It is unrealistic to expect a used car to be in tip-top shape, and that is precisely why they come at a discounted price. Pre-purchase inspections are critical when buying used cars especially, because then you can have a better idea of what you’re really getting into.
 

Take help from a knowledgeable mechanic

Buying a used car is economically usually a great idea, but the success of your purchase will likely depend greatly on what steps you take leading up to the sale. Before you make any purchase, it is important to do your research on the fuel economy, the typical resale value, and the general issues that one may encounter with any given car model. Being an informed consumer is not just about trusting an expert’s opinion, although it can be of great value when you are only somewhat knowledgeable about the details of a particular vehicle—a knowledgeable automotive specialist will be able to help you fill in the blanks by performing a pre-purchase inspection, or giving you any particular advice in regard to the dealership you choose to buy from. Buying a used car can be tricky—so don’t fall into the shiny object trap.

Simple Steps to Sell Your Car

Posted on | 26 Apr 2017 By Anita Gaal

Selling your car sounds like a simple concept when you finally decide to take the plunge; however, selling a vehicle the right way involves research and investment of time and energy in order to be sure that you get the highest value, among other things. Selling your car for quick cash may seem appealing to many people, yet they don’t always take the time to be sure the process is done in the most beneficial fashion. Getting top dollar for your vehicle should be the priority in a car sale, and this requires a little bit of research on your part. Here are some helpful tips and ideas that will help you once you have decided to begin the process of selling a vehicle.

Refer Blue Book value

The first thing you should do is look up the Blue Book value of your vehicle. You will be required to enter some basic information about your car including mileage, model, make, year, etc. that will give a general calculation of what other cars similar to yours sell for these days. While this is a helpful guide of how to set the price of your car, it is also important to take into consideration the condition and wear of your vehicle—for instance, if you know that your car has had upgrades or recent engine work done, this could increase the price of your vehicle. However, if your car has been in several accidents, has worn parts, and the interior is torn up, you may end up lowering the price you set.

Know your car’s sell ability

Another factor that may influence the price of your car is the sell ability of the vehicle itself; for instance, if the vehicle is not very popular, or if it is notorious for spontaneous combustion, it may take longer to sell—in this case, the seller usually will lower the cost of the car if they wish to sell it in a timely manner. The current demand of the vehicle you wish to sell plays a role in the price that it will go for, but keep in mind that the lower the cost, the more likely it will sell quicker. Depending on the urgency of your situation, this may be something to consider. It is not uncommon for people to sell their vehicles in order to extinguish credit card debt or lower a monthly payment. In any case, taking the time to research the value of your vehicle is crucial.

Get your car cleaned

Take pride in your car! These are the last few moments you may have with it, so get it looking its best; give it a bath and clean it out of dirt and debris, at the very least. Especially if you are listing your car online, you should take pictures of the car once it’s cleaned up—it should look in as good of condition as possible for the photographs, or in person. Maintaining honesty and credibility is an important moral quality; get your engine inspected and perform any low-cost maintenance or repairs that you can afford. If a car comes across as well-taken-care-of, it will likely sell quicker. If you are selling your car at the dealership, it usually is not necessary to wash the car or vacuum it out; dealerships will usually wash the car anyway, and a dirty car is not unfamiliar to them, nor will it factor psychologically into the price of the vehicle.

Make arrangement for title transfer

After your car is cleaned up and ready to go, the next thing you will need to do is dig out the title of your vehicle. After the money transaction is finalized, you will need to sign over the title to the new recipient and be sure to include the current mileage of the vehicle. This step is important, because it releases liability to the new owner of the vehicle. You can then go online through your state DMV and communicate to them that you have sold your vehicle, which, again, legally transfers the liability associated with the vehicle to the new owner. In other words, you are to notify the DMV that anything that happens to or with the car is now the responsibility of the person you sold it to. Overall, selling your car can be a simple process, as long as you are an informed seller!

10 Preventive Maintenance Suggestions for Your Car

Posted on | 11 Apr 2017 By Anita Gaal

When money is tight, preventive maintenance for your car is probably the last thing on your mind. However, the idea behind continually maintaining your vehicle is that it will save you money in the love run. By monitoring your vehicles needs based on your own individual driving schedule and habits, you can prevent serious wear and tear from occurring to your car. Beyond the interest of saving money, it is also possible that you are a car enthusiast who loves your vehicle like a mother loves a child; you would do anything to keep it from harm. Preventive maintenance is good to practice when you own a vehicle for countless reasons; the most important being saving time and money on more expensive repairs that could have been prevented by routine maintenance. All vehicles follow a different maintenance schedule depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations, but there are at least 10 general maintenance suggestions that will help your car stay in tip-top shape. After all, you never know when you’ll need to leave town unexpectedly, or when you’ll be taking a long drive. In either case, leaving your car sitting in your driveway could cause problems, but issues could also occur along the course of a long drive—the difference will be noticeable when you follow these 10 suggestions.

Routine oil and oil filter change

Firstly, stay on top of oil and oil filter changes; oil is the lifeblood of your vehicle—it keeps all the moving parts greased up and running properly. When the oil and/or oil filter in your car is not clean, fine particles of dust and dirt begin to grind between the other moving parts of your car’s engine, causing wear and difficulty for the car to run smoothly. Another item that must be inspected and replaced routinely is your air filter; for the same reason, your air filter is meant to keep unwanted, damaging particles out of your engine and the moving parts. A good rule of thumb is to have your air filter checked each time you get your oil changed—about every 3 months or so, depending on how often and how long of a distance you drive your car regularly. Additionally, keep all the fluids in your car topped off—these could also be checked and filled when you take your car in for a routine oil change.

Take care of your tires

Checking your tire pressure is highly underestimated; it is essential to be sure that all 4 tires are running on the same pressure—if not, it can cause an uneven tread in your tires causing them to need to be replaced sooner than generally necessary. Furthermore, when there is a clear issue with uneven wear on your tires, it may be an opportunity for you to investigate the cause of the unevenness—it could be due to an issue with the suspension, and the earlier you catch such an issue the better, because you could prevent further harm to take place to other parts of your car. Also regarding the tires, they should be rotated every so often, particularly before a long drive; this will help you get the longest life out of those expensive tires.

Follow the manufacturer maintenance schedule

As mentioned before, every car has its own maintenance schedule as recommended by the manufacturer; it is always best to follow the maintenance schedule on your vehicle to ensure that you are following the suggested guidelines. Some of these services may include checking the battery life and terminals to make sure the power remains intact and sufficient for years to come. In addition to scheduled services and checking the battery every so often, it is also important to check the functioning of your headlights and brake lights regularly. Not only is this safer for driving in the dark and it can prevent car accidents, but it will save you money in the long run; fix-it tickets are totally avoidable.

Do regular car washes and waxes

Another preventive maintenance that is often overlooked is regular car washes and waxes; this keeps the paint on your car shiny and polished—not only does it look fabulous, but in the future, if you ever decide to sell your car, it will make the car look brand new and hardly used. Taking pride in one’s vehicle is always evident in the paint. Lastly, you should always monitor your gas mileage. When there is a huge dip in fuel economy, this can be a big indicator that something is wrong with the engine. Following most of these 10 suggestions will not only ensure better gas mileage, but it will maintain the value to your vehicle, and extend the life of your vehicle for years to come.

The Importance of Different Warning Lights

Posted on | 28 Feb 2017 By Anita Gaal

Your vehicle requires constant maintenance and upkeep to ensure that you can depend on it to get you wherever you may need to go. While you may see a light come on the dashboard and be instantly filled with dread at the thought of expensive and elaborate repairs being required or worst-case scenario breakdowns, the dashboard warning lights are actually an immeasurably valuable tool to keeping your vehicle properly maintained. While newer cars seem to have endless lights for just about every component of the car, there are some critical lights that are important to know what they signify and what could be the issue. These are just a few of the most important lights that may be on your dashboard and the issues that they may mean are occurring.

Brake System

This light warns that there is something wrong with either the brake system or the brake fluid. Considering the importance of the brakes on your vehicle, if this light turns on your dashboard it is vital to have your car checked out immediately.

Check Engine Warning Light

Possibly the most dreaded of all dashboard lights, the check engine light usually is accompanied by weird symptoms that can include a lack of power, an intermittent stuttering when you try to accelerate or another issue being caused by whatever the problem may be. The biggest concern with the check engine light are all of the symptoms that can cause the check engine light to turn on; everything from a faulty electrical sensor or a loose gas cap to a large mechanical issue. If your check engine light is on, have your vehicle looked at by a professional auto mechanic as soon as possible. Irreparable damage can be caused to the engine and other components by failing to diagnose the issue should it be something critical.

Airbag Warning Light

If this light is on, it means that the airbag may be faulty and if it is faulty it will not deploy in the event of a crash. Obviously the airbag is one of the key inventions intended for driver and passenger safety and should it be experiencing issues, it can either deploy at a random time or not at all, meaning you should get it taken care of immediately by a professional mechanic.

Power Steering/EPAS Warning Light

This indicates that there may be an issue with the steering system. You may notice it taking more effort to steer or change direction, which can be annoying in lower speed settings and extremely dangerous on freeways or open roads should you need to suddenly swerve or change lanes.

Coolant Warning Light

Coolant is a vital part of your engine systems and without it, the engine would essentially weld itself together due to how hot it gets. If the coolant levels are low then the coolant light may turn on, but it can also mean a larger problem such as head gasket failure or something like a leak in the system. To avoid expensive repair bills or catastrophic damages to your engine or other systems, seek the help of a professional immediately.

Oil Warning Light

Another potentially damaging issue to your engine is if your oil levels get too high or especially too low. If the oil pressure drops it can put a high strain on the system and will result in reduced or completely lost lubrication for your engine, which can cause the engine to grind and inflict expensive damages on it.

Tire Pressure Warning Light

Most modern vehicles have a tire pressure monitor to determine if the tires are properly inflated to avoid risk of damaging the vehicle or the tires. Properly inflated tires will also improve fuel efficiency and handling, so if this light is on take a look to ensure the health of your tires and the sensors themselves.

Conclusion

While there are a large variety of dashboard lights that can indicate issues for your vehicle, knowing the most important ones and what they may signify is a great way to keep your car in top shape and maintain peak performance while avoiding expensive and extensive damages and repairs to your car. Whether it is an issue with oil pressure or the check engine light, finding a professional service center to help you as soon as possible will help prevent any massive issues.

Tips for Driving BMW Through Hills & Terrains

Posted on | 27 Jan 2017 By Anita Gaal

Drivers have come to expect more from their BMW than what you may expect from another brand of car and for good reason. BMW’s are known for their innovation and commitment to unparalleled standards for both luxury and performance and that is expected to be maintained even on a variety of inclines and terrains. You don’t purchase a car solely because it drives straight lines well on flat surfaces and you shouldn’t expect your BMW to fold at the first sign of less than ideal terrains. There are however important tips to consider to keep navigating these less than ideal hills and roads easier on you and your car at the same time so consider these tricks before your next drive.

Important tricks to consider

• Utilize Your Hill Descent Control– Hill Descent Control is a driver assistance system available in four-wheel drive BMWs. When navigating a hill it will take control of the vehicle and hold it at a steady, pre-determined speed. This will help control the brakes so you the driver can better focus solely on steering and navigating the hill. Combined with the BMWs anti-lock braking system, HDC is a great feature for driving on loose downhill surfaces like gravel, grass or snow and gives you excellent stability and helps to prevent the vehicle from skidding.
• Use the Right Drive Gears– If your vehicle has an automatic transmission then it’ll be easier for you to drive uphill as opposed to a manual one. Your transmission automatically will switch to a lower gear with lower RPMs when your speed gets low enough but there is a way to get more power while being easy on your engine and transmission. Your BMW should have drive options like D1, D2 or D3 to give your vehicle more climbing power and speed while maintaining higher RPMs, D2 or D3 will offer you an easier uphill drive while allowing for less wear on the engine by maintaining the RPM levels.
• Check Coolant and Engine Oil Levels– If you are going to be driving steep uphill or downhill grades, check your engine oil and coolant levels prior to heading out. These should be filled close to the MAX line and will help keep your engine from overheating and well lubricated to avoid added strain.
• Clean Your Car After Driving Rough Terrains– After driving on any poor roads or terrain you can check your vehicle’s safety by removing any excess dirt and mud from the body and by clearing mud, snow, ice and any other types of debris from the wheels and tires. You can also inspect your BMW after driving for any damages that may have been caused by the terrain.
• xDrive Is Worth It– On most top selling models of BMW, xDrive All Wheel Drive is available and should be considered before purchasing any new BMW. It is a permanent all-wheel drive system that distributes the engine power between front and rear axles and it can send 100% of power to either axle at any time. It constantly changes how much power is delivered to the front and rear wheels to give you the best traction possible at all times. This makes handling any terrain, hill or windy road easier and gives you more grip and control of your vehicle. This option is extremely popular with BMW drivers so if you think that you may be driving a wide variety of terrains with your BMW, consider just how effective and beneficial this feature may be before purchasing your new BMW.

Don’t neglect car maintenance

Chances are you will have to navigate some rough terrains at some point and time with your BMW and while it is designed to handle anything the roads can throw at it, maintaining your car is always a good idea. Knowing the best ways to care for your car during and after driving these roads and hills will help preserve your BMW’s performance and appearance as well. Being better prepared is never a bad thing and when it comes to the health of your car, you want it to be running properly for its’ entire lifespan and following these tips and others when it comes to care, your BMW will also likely have a longer lifespan as well.

Featured Image credit goes to : DathArt

BMW X4 image credit goes to : DathArt